Improved bed-bottom connection



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

FREDERICK METZ, OF LYONS, NEW YORK.

IIVIPROVED BED-BOTTOM CONNECTION.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, FREDERICK METZ, of Lyons, in the county of l/Vaync and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Connecting the Slats with the Cross-Pieces in Bed-Bottoms; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this speciiication.

Figure l is a side elevation of the end of a slat with my improvement attached thereto and connecting it with one of the cross-pieces; Figs. 2 and 3, perspective views of the parts forming the attachment; Fig. 4, a cross-section of the socket and head; Fig. 5, perspective view of the eye for screwing into the crosspiece, Fig. 6, a view showing the method of connecting the slats in the middle to prevent lateral expansion.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the igures.

My invention consists in an arrangement for connecting the slats with the cross-pieces of a bed-bottom in such a manner as to allow said slats to be turned or reversed in position when they become bent or sagged, and at the same time to produce the necessary `elasticity or spring.

As represented inthe drawings, A indicates one of a series ot' slats, and B one of the crosspieces with which they are connected. To each end of each slat is secured a clasp or plate, C, held by screws or otherwise. This clasp has a bearing, a, formed on its end, as shown. On this bearing rests a socket, D, which is held in place by a head, E, applied on the end of the bearing and headed on or otherwise rigidly secured after the socket has been applied in place. The contiguous faces of the socket and head are respectively provided With a vertical groove and tongue, c d, which engage in the opposite positions as the slat is turned over. The socket D has an eye or bearing, F, through which passes a loop, G, of elastic cloth or equivalent, connecting in a similar manner at the opposite end with an eye or bearing, H, which screws into the crosspiece.

In order to insert the elastic cloth easily, I make anoblique opening, ,through the bearing portion of each eye F H. By this arrangement it will be seen I am enabled to turn each slat over independently of the rest whenever the same becomes sagged or bent, as is always thecase when in constant use. Itis onlynecessary bya drawingaction on the elastic cloth to disengage the groove and tongue c d, when the bearing a is free to turn in the socket D, and the action is accomplished at once. When the slat has properly turned the groove and tongue engage again bythe automatic action and are held securely, since the strain is very slight, owing to the fact that the mattress has a tendency to hold the slat in place itself. In addition to this I combine the use ot'springs G G with the arrangement so as to secure the necessary elasticity of the parts 5 and the springs of each slat are disconnected with the others, s0 as to insure a greater amount of yieldingness than it' the whole were bound or connected t0- gether.

The openings f f of the eyes allow the elastic loops to be entered or removed without seaming or breaking. Thus when worn the loops, y

can be easily replaced.

The device is in such form thatit can be put into the market independently of the slats, and thus form a new article of manufacture.

W`hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the socket D with the head E and bearing a of the clasp or plate O, said socket and head beingprovided With the groove and tongue c d, or equivalent, and the whole arranged in connection with the slats A in such a manner as to allow them \to turn to opposite positions, substantially as speci- FREDERICK METZ.

XVitnesses:

E. A. GEIswoLD, HENRY SMITH, DANL. ENGEL. 

